Join us as we explore the rise of the niche VC—where macro insight meets precision engineering, and systems thinking powers the next wave of frontier tech.

⚙️ Simon Lancaster is a builder’s VC.Founder of Omni Ventures and a former inventor at Apple, Google, and Blackberry with 54+ patents - Simon lives at the intersection of hardware, software, and design. He’s launching his new book Uncovering Alpha, and we’re diving deep into what it takes to back the boldest ideas in advanced manufacturing and portfolio buildinG.

🎸 Sophie Liao is a force.Founding Partner at Republic Ventures (formerly Oyster), she built a top-decile fund solo, turned 90 seed bets into unicorns and IPOs, and is now reshaping private market infrastructure through SaaS, AI, and fintech. Her lens? Global, deeply strategic, and laser-focused on inefficiencies most don’t even see.

🧩 Together, they’ll unpack:– Why niche VCs are outperforming– Where early-stage conviction comes from– What the next wave of innovation really looks like